Haworthia plant named ‘AMIHAW1616’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Haworthia hybrid plant named ‘AMIHAW1616’, which is characterized by spirally-arranged, dark green and glossy foliage with near-white orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular transverse rows across the upper and lower leaf surfaces and small near-white teeth along the length of the margins. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Haworthia limifolia xHaworthia pentagona.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Haworthia hybriddisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMIHAW1616’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2018/1404, filed May 29, 2018, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIHAW1616’ is a seedling selection resulting from thecontrolled pollination of an unnamed Haworthia limifolia plant (notpatented), the seed parent, with Haworthia pentagona ‘AMIHAW1801’ (U.S.Pat. No. 30,399), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by theinventor in the autumn of 2011 at a commercial greenhouse inHeerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In the autumn of 2013, one seedling wasobserved which exhibited unique growth and foliage characteristics.After confirming the stability of the unique characteristics firstobserved, the new plant was selected for commercialization and given thename, ‘AMIHAW1616’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘AMIHAW1616’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated inthe summer of 2015 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse inHeerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through four subsequent generations, theunique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIHAW1616’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘AMIHAW1616’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘AMIHAW1616’ as a new and distinct Haworthia hybridcultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIHAW1616’ exhibits spirally-arranged succulent foliage in        a basal rosette; and    -   2. ‘AMIHAW1616’ exhibits foliage with small, near-white teeth        along the length of the margins; and    -   3. ‘AMIHAW1616’ exhibits dark green, glossy foliage with        near-white orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular        transverse rows across the upper and lower leaf surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘AMIHAW1616’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 12 months old, shown planted ina 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘AMIHAW1616’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIHAW1616’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIHAW1616’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in December of 2018describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 12 months old‘AMIHAW1616’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Haworthia plants whichconsisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, andchemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug andBotrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percentshade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began tomature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to theplants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIHAW1616’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIHAW1616’ and a comparison with theparents and closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            stemless, non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant shape.—Globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—9.9 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 19.2 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Slow to moderately fast.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 21 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop time —            Approximately 45 weeks to produce a marketable plant in a 12            cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Aloe pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; low            tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;            no main branches or lateral branches present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Spirally arranged in a rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—24 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Ovate to narrow deltoid succulent foliage.        -   Dimensions.—9.4 cm long, 4.0 cm wide, and 1.2 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Very slightly concaved and slightly curled downward.        -   Attitude.—Juvenile foliage at the center of the rosette is            held outward; foliage becomes progressively more relaxed            towards the outer whorls of mature foliage, at an average            angle of 25 degrees from horizontal.        -   Apex.—Narrow acute to long apiculate, with a soft mucronate            tip.        -   Base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Margin.—Finely dentate; teeth have an average length of            0.075 cm and are colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture            of RHS 190B and 190C. Margins are not undulated or lobed.        -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous and moderately covered            with orbicular to broad elliptic protuberances loosely            arranged in irregular transverse rows across the leaf            surface; protuberances are approximately 0.15 cm high and            0.1 cm in diameter, at maturity.        -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous and moderately to densely            covered with orbicular to broad elliptic protuberances            loosely arranged in irregular transverse rows across the            leaf surface; protuberances are approximately 0.175 cm high            and 0.125 cm in diameter, at maturity.        -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Glossy.        -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Glossy.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in            between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137 and 147A;            protuberances are colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 191C.            Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS            NN137A; protuberances are colored greyed-green, nearest to            RHS 191C. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in            between yellow-green and greyed-green, RHS 147A and N189A;            fading to a lighter shade of yellow-green towards the base,            nearest to RHS 148C; base is in between white and            greyed-white, RHS N155C and 156D; protuberances are colored            greyed-green, nearest to RHS 191B. Mature foliage, abaxial            surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS            139A and 147A; fading to a lighter shade of yellow-green            towards the base, nearest to RHS 146A; base is in between            white and greyed-white, RHS N155C and 156A; protuberances            are colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 191B            and 191C.        -   Venation.—No venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIHAW1616’ differ from the seed parent, anunnamed Haworthia limifolia (not patented), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Haworthia limifolia Characteristic ‘AMIHAW1616’ seed parentPlant size. Larger than the seed Smaller than parent. ‘AMIHAW1616’.General coloration Darker shade of green Lighter shade of green of themature than the seed parent. than‘AMIHAW1616’. foliage. Foliage luster.More glossy than the Less glossy than seed parent. ‘AMIHAW1616’. LeafOrbicular to broad Conspicuous transverse protuberances. ellipticprotuberances linear protuberances loosely arranged in presenting asraised ribs irregular transverse across the leaf surface. rows. Foliagemargins. Finely dentate. Entire.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIHAW1616’ differ from the pollen parent,Haworthia pentagona ‘AMIHAW1801’ (U.S. Pat. No. 30,399), in thefollowing characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘AMIHAW1616’ ‘AMIHAW1801’ Plant size. Smallerthan Larger than ‘AMIHAW 1801’. ‘AMIHAW1616’. Rate of growth. Slowerthan Faster than ‘AMIHAW1801’. ‘AMIHAW1616’. General coloration Darkgreen. Light greyed-green. of the mature foliage. Foliage margins.Finely dentate Coarsely dentate with with more teeth than fewer teeththan ‘AMIHAW1801’. ‘AMIHAW1616’. Presence of leaf Present. Not present.protuberances.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIHAW1616’ differ from the closest knowncommercial comparator, Haworthia maxima ‘SIHAW7026’ (U.S. Pat. No.29,693), in the following characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘AMIHAW1616’ ‘SI HAW 7026’ Plant size. Largerthan Smaller than ‘SI HAW 7026’ ‘AMIHAW1616’. Foliage size. Larger thanSmaller than ‘SI HAW 7026’ ‘AMIHAW1616’. Foliage attitude. More relaxedthan More upright than ‘SI HAW 7026’ ‘AMIHAW1616’. Foliage margins.Finely dentate. Postulate. Size of leaf Smaller than Larger thanprotuberances. ‘SI HAW 7026’ ‘AMIHAW1616’. General coloration Very lightgreyed-green, White. of leaf appearing as near-white. protuberances.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Haworthiahybrid plant named ‘AMIHAW1616’, substantially as described andillustrated herein.